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Smiths Drummer Breaks Silence on Bitter Lawsuit Aftermath
4 Nov
Summary
- Drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke sued Morrissey and Johnny Marr over royalties in 1989
- Joyce won his trial, but Rourke settled out of court
- Joyce hasn't spoken to Morrissey since 1992, and still faces harassment from fans
- Joyce and Marr reconnected at Rourke's memorial service in 2023
Nearly 34 years after the Smiths' acrimonious split, former drummer Mike Joyce is breaking his silence on the band's infamous lawsuit over royalties. In a new interview, Joyce reflects on the 1989 court battle he and bassist Andy Rourke initiated against Morrissey and Johnny Marr, claiming they were owed a higher percentage of the band's earnings.
The lawsuit ultimately led to the Smiths' demise, with Morrissey and Marr arguing their bandmates were not equal partners. While Rourke settled out of court, Joyce won his trial, but the fallout has continued to haunt him. He reveals he hasn't spoken to Morrissey since 1992, and still faces regular harassment from the singer's fans on social media.
